Syrena Chapter 10
Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your reviews for last chapter. I am so glad you are all still onboard and reading this little story of mine. It makes it so much easier to write when I know that you are all just as passionate about these stories and characters as I am. It keeps the KKM fandom alive!
Please review! I can't wait to hear what you think.
As always, my eternal thanks for your support and feedback. It helps me improve as a writer.
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Syrena Chapter 10 - Amelia
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Yuuri stood before the palace entrance with his brother, mother, and the king with a calm Murata and a fidgety Wolfram at his side waiting for his future to arrive.
Yuuri kept stealing glances at the merman. Against his father's wishes, Yuuri had Wolfram join them in greeting their guests. He saw no reason to hide Wolfram from the Norwich family and certainly not from his future wife. If Amelia was going to be his bride then she would have to be accepting of the fact that Wolfram would always be a part of Yuuri's life. It would be a difficult pill to swallow, but he believed that being up front and honesty were the best strategies at this point until he could surmise what kind of person this Amelia was.
Though he was aware of Yuuri's concerned glances, Wolfram kept his gaze facing forward, watching silently as the guards posted at the top of the walls that surrounded the palace made the announcement that Lord Norwich and company were approaching the outer gates. They would arrive within minutes. Wolfram had remained quiet the entire morning, only giving minimal responses whenever Yuuri or Murata addressed him. It was clear that Wolfram was not happy with Yuuri and old suspicions were rearing their ugly heads as the merman pondered over this new turn of events.
Dressed in a blue jacket and matching trousers with a pristine white cravat, Wolfram looked like the fairytale princes of old that Yuuri's maids would read about in story books to him as a child. The dashing, beautiful prince always ready to protect the princess and rescue the kingdom. Wolfram looked absolutely perfect and Yuuri wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if Amelia found herself more attracted to the sea creature than her future husband. It would be just typical.
"Look alive, Yuuri! The Norwich family are approaching the gate," Shouri whispered to Yuuri, looking like the Crown Prince he was bred to be.
Yuuri sighed and stared ahead as the guard gave the order and the steady creaking of the gates echoed across the giant courtyard. His stomach did a flip as Yuuri's future made its way past the rumbling gates. The ornately decorated carriage steadily entered as the sentries lifted their horns and let out a grand blast to welcome their guests.
Yuuri saw Wolfram wince and let out a soft hiss at the sharp noise. Yuuri felt sympathetic towards the merman. Wolfram's ears were evolved to hear sounds through a much denser atmosphere than air and his ears were incredibly sensitive to any loud or sharp sound. As subtly as he could, Yuuri reached over to gently stroke Wolfram's clenched fist. The merman looked at Yuuri's hand and then up at him, to which Yuuri gave an assuring smile. Wolfram visibly relaxed and he unclasped his hand to shyly grasp at Yuuri's outstretched hand.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Wolfram gave Yuuri a small smile, which made this whole ordeal just a little more bearable now.
'I swear, I will not let Wolfram be taken from me. I will keep my promise.' He thought as he watched their fingers loosely intertwine.
The moment was interrupted when Shouri gave Yuuri a sharp bump with his elbow. The moment now ruined, Yuuri glared at his brother. "What?"
Shouri frowned. "Keep it together! Your future bride is here! Stop making eyes at the fish!" He whispered harshly, glancing at their parents who stood just a few feet in front of them. Shouri hadn't missed the disapproving glances their father and his advisors were sending Yuuri and Wolfram's way.
Yuuri huffed, but withdrew his hand from Wolfram, trying to ignore the confused and somewhat hurt look the merman sent his way that was then replaced by anger. Great, just when he had won Wolfram's tentative forgiveness, he had lost it thanks to Shouri's meddling.
He and Wolfram were going on a vacation. That was the last thought that went through Yuuri's mind when the pageboy placed the step stool on the ground and opened the door of the carriage.
Lord Edward Norwich was the first to step out. A very tall man of middle age dressed in the finery of the Eastern nobility with greying brown hair and aristocratic features. Lord Norwich waved off the pageboy's helping hand and descended on his own from the carriage. Upon noticing the royal family standing at the top of the stairway into the palace, he gave a preliminary bow before turning to help his daughter from the carriage.
Yuuri held his breath. This was it. This was Lady Amelia Norwich, the girl who would become his wife in a matter of months if everything went as planned between their fathers. He had given himself pep talks, motivational speeches, and mental strengthening of any and all kinds to prepare for this moment and yet he still found himself shaking in his boots and wanting to run away. Anything to avoid the drastic turn his life would take once this girl met him for the first time.
A delicate shoe stepped out of the carriage, followed by the hem of a puffy skirt followed by a white hand reaching out to grasp Lord Norwich's arm. The hand was followed by a head, shoulders, and a second arm that carefully clasped the hem of the dress to avoid the dirt.
There, standing right in front of them was Lady Amelia Norwich.
In Yuuri's worst nightmares, he imagined his father setting him up with a bratty, spoiled wench of a girl, but that wasn't Lady Amelia. She was actually rather pleasant looking.
Lady Amelia was unusually tall for a girl her age. She had obviously gotten that from her father, who towered over everyone around them. She looked to be about Shouri's height, which was just grand because Shouri stood at least four inches taller than Yuuri. Yuuri got the short genes from his mother's family. She had dark brown hair wrapped up in a bun in the fine style of the court ladies, pale skin with freckles, and a rather curvaceous body. Lady Amelia was not like the delicate and dainty girls that Yuuri was used to. She had a presence.
She wasn't like the great beauties in stories that caused princes to fall in love on the first sight. She wasn't alluring or sexy or anything that would make her particularly beautiful. She had an open, oval face with intelligently glinting eyes and a calm demeanor that gave off the impression of her being someone that was amiable.
But despite not fitting any socially constructed models of ideal beauty, Lady Amelia had a gentleness about her that Yuuri hadn't seen either. She carried herself with humility but dignity as her father guided her to stand before the royal family.
"May I present, his Lordship Edward Norwich of the East and his fourth daughter, Lady Amelia Norwich." The pageboy announced grandly.
Lady Amelia dipped into a graceful curtsey alongside her father's stiff bow. When she stood straight, her hazel gaze fell on Yuuri and breaking all protocol, she offered him a shy smile.
Maybe she wouldn't be so bad.
"It is an honor to be in your presence, your Majesties, King Shouma and Queen Miko," Lord Norwich said in a smooth deep voice.
Shouma stepped forward and opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. "The honor is ours as well, Lord Norwich. It is a pleasure to finally meet you after so many letters exchanged between us."
Lord Norwich nodded. "Indeed. It is with great excitement that we are here."
"I pray the journey was pleasant?" King Shouma asked.
"It was, your Majesty. I thank you for the escort that met us at the border. They were most helpful," Lord Norwich said with a polite smile.
"Very good," King Shouma replied. "And this is Lady Amelia, I presume?"
"Ah, yes," Norwich nodded and stepped aside to gently push his daughter forward.
"This is my fourth daughter and youngest child, Amelia."
Amelia curtseyed again. "It is an honor to meet you, your Majesty. I thank you for having us."
Yuuri thought that Amelia had a very calm and quiet voice. She was obviously well-trained in court etiquette as she never faltered once or showed nervousness in the presence of the king.
"You are most certainly welcome, Lady Amelia," King Shouma smiled widely at the girl. Shouma stepped aside and gestured toward the waiting royal family. "May I introduce my wife, Queen Miko and my two sons, Crown Prince Shouri and Prince Yuuri."
On cue, Queen Miko stepped forward and gave a bright smile to the Norwich family. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you! Shouma has told me so much about you! You are just as sweet as I imagined, Miss Amelia!"
Lady Amelia blushed. "I thank you, my Queen."
"Shouri! Yuuri! Come say hello!" Queen Miko called out though the two sons were already making their way down the stone steps.
Shouri was the first to gently grasp Amelia's hand and kiss it. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Amelia." He looked up at the young girl with a charming smile that would melt butter.
Not to be shown up, Yuuri followed suit and kissed Amelia's hand as well. "It is nice to finally meet you, Lady Amelia."
Amelia blushed even deeper and smiled, tucking her hand away into the fold of her dress. Yuuri found himself starting to like the girl. It was nice to not be the only socially apprehensive person for once.
"The pleasure is all mine, Prince Yuuri," She whispered, her smile widening just a bit. "I am so excited to finally meet you. My father has told me so much about you."
"Really?" Yuuri said, genuinely surprised…and a little worried. "What did he tell you?"
"He said you hunt merpeople," Amelia said, a strange twinkle coming into her eye.
Here Yuuri faltered. He did not want to discuss that in front of Wolfram, who was choosing to remain silent. "Um….yeah. That is one of my duties."
Amelia immediately perked up. "Can you tell me about it?" She asked excitedly. "I find merpeople to be fascinating and I've never seen a wild one! Will you be able to show me?"
"Amelia!" Lord Norwich scolded. "Prince Yuuri doesn't want to indulge your girlish fantasies!"
"You…like merpeople?" Yuuri asked hesitantly.
Amelia nodded. "I've read about them since I was little. I've only ever seen one in captivity many years ago. I think they're very interesting creatures."
"Is that so?" This was an unexpected revelation.
"My apologies, your Majesties," Norwich interrupted, giving a scolding glance to his daughter. "Amelia has a very wild imagination and she's never seen the ocean before. She has all these fantastical notions about sea life and merpeople, especially. All she could talk about on the way here was seeing the ocean and finding a mermaid. Can you believe it?" Lord Norwich gave a dry chuckle.
King Shouma nodded in sympathy. "No worries, Lord Norwich. Prince Yuuri here used to be obsessed with the creatures when he was younger. Thankfully, he has learned the truth about them."
Yuuri couldn't stop himself from shooting an annoyed glance at his father. Yes, he had learned the truth about merpeople, but it wasn't the truth his father spoke of.
"Well!" Queen Miko said, clapping her hands together, possibly sensing the sudden tension. "Why don't we head inside? I'm sure you would like to settle in and later, we have prepared a fine dinner for you!"
"Prince Yuuri, why don't you show Lady Amelia to her rooms?" Shouma motioned for Yuuri to lead Amelia into the palace.
"Of course," He replied easily, holding out his arm for Lady Amelia. "Please follow me, Lady Amelia."
"Call me Amelia," She said immediately as she took the offered elbow. "Lady Amelia is a bit of a mouthful."
Yuuri couldn't help but smile. This wasn't turning out so bad. "You can call me Yuuri as well."
"Perfect!" Amelia said brightly, her shyness beginning to melt away. "We shall be friends upon the morn!"
"Of course," Yuuri said with a small chuckle and the two entered the palace behind their parents with Shouri, Murata and the rest of their entourage following behind.
Lingering at the very end of the procession was Wolfram who shuffled his way into the palace, already forgotten.
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As they walked to Lady Amelia's rooms, the young woman remained quiet and polite, answering trivial small talk from Yuuri as they made their way into the palace. But a funny thing happened. As soon as Lord Norwich went into his rooms and they continued on to Lady Amelia's quarters, the girl immediately launched into a string of questions about merpeople.
"What do mermaids look like? Are they really just giant fish? Are they as vicious as everyone says they are? Do they really sing and what does it sound like? How do they breed? What are your day to day duties as a mermaid hunter?" The questions ran together so quickly that Yuuri barely had time to register what she had asked.
"Um…well….uh," Yuuri stuttered trying to make sense of the rush of questions thrown his way. "They kind of look like humans but they're covered in scales up to their necks. They can be vicious but no more than any other wild animal. So long as you give them space and don't bother them, they are fine. They sing but it's not like human singing -"
"What kind of singing?" Amelia asked, leaning in closer in rapt attention.
"Have you ever heard a whale?" Amelia shook her head no. "Well, it's difficult to explain. It's like a sad, moaning sound but not like a moan, more like…..something…"
"Something?" Amelia raised a finely plucked eyebrow.
"You have to hear it yourself…" Yuuri said meekly.
"I see," Amelia nodded. "It's one of those thing where you have to experience it for yourself."
"Exactly," Yuuri said.
"So what do you do as a mermaid hunter?" Amelia said, moving on to the next question.
"I basically just make sure the merfolk don't bother the fishing vessels," Yuuri said plainly.
"Is it dangerous?"
"Most of the time it's boring," Yuuri shrugged. "Merpeople aren't constantly attacking ships. They only do it on occasion and when a ship strays into their territory."
"I heard that when they attack a ship there are never any survivors," Amelia said almost in a whisper. She was absolutely hanging on Yuuri's every word.
"Sometimes, there are usually one or two survivors," Yuuri explained. "But, yes, you're right in that they are very thorough hunters. The ocean is their domain and they have the advantage. If a man falls into the water and a merfolk is nearby, then he's as good as dead."
"How frightening!" Amelia gasped.
"If you don't mind my asking," Yuuri said. "Why are you so interested in merpeople?"
Amelia blushed. "Well….my nursemaid would read me sailor's tales about them and when I was older, my father took me to a side show and they had a live mermaid in a huge tank. It was so surreal. The mermaid was scary and yet beautiful at the same time."
"Really?" Yuuri hadn't been to a sideshow since he was very young. They were run by ne'er-do-wells and offered a bunch of macabre and freakish sights for the public to behold. They sold folk remedies, and souvenirs from around the Continent. They were just a hodge-podge of unusual and disturbing sights and acts.
"I remember thinking that the mermaid's tank was far too small…"
"Is that so?"
Amelia nodded. "I remember as a child thinking that the tank they put her in was far too small. She was basically all rolled up in that thing…and the water was dirty too. I felt bad for her."
"That does sound sad…" Traveling sideshows weren't known for their ethical treatment of their animals.
"It was…."
Finally, they had reached their destination. A maid was waiting for them and with a silent bow opened the door to Amelia's rooms for the young lady to enter.
Yuuri glanced back down the hallway where the door to his own bedroom was just a couple of yards away. A deliberate move on the part of his father. Should Amelia become his wife, the rooms where she was staying now would be renovated and made more suitable for a young princess of Shin Makoku. It was a careful reminder to the both of them what lay ahead.
"I shall see you in a bit?" Amelia said pleasantly, standing in the door of her room.
Yuuri smiled politely. "Of course. I look forward to it." And with a slight nod, he left Amelia to her own and made his way to his own room.
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That had gone as well as expected. Yuuri was pleasantly surprised that Amelia appeared to not be the stuffy, spoiled girl he had been prepared to meet. She seemed rather amicable and was promising to be at least interesting, as she had let slip her fascination with the ocean and merpeople. Something Yuuri could relate to.
'We shall see…' He thought to himself as he entered his bedroom to get ready for the welcoming dinner party.
"I don't like her."
"Shinou, Wolfram! You made my heart stop!" Yuuri cried, clutching his chest and trying to calm his nerves as the low hiss of Wolfram's voice cut through the silence.
Unaffected, Wolfram continued to stare at Yuuri with a hard gaze as the prince calmed himself. "I don't like her," he repeated with more emphasis.
Wolfram had removed his outer clothing, now he was dressed in only his blue trousers and his white undershirt that was halfway unbuttoned, showing a fine peek of smooth skin. His hair was in its usual shaggy, wavy mess instead of the more civil ponytail he had worn for the Norwich arrival. Sitting on the window seat propped against the pillows, the sight would have been almost sensual if the look on Wolfram's face wasn't of pure irritation.
"She wasn't so bad, Wolfram. You haven't even spoken to her," Yuuri said as he went to the wardrobe to pick out his dinner outfit.
"She doesn't belong here."
"What do you mean?" Yuuri turned around to face the merman.
"She doesn't fit," Wolfram said, getting up from his spot by the window to join Yuuri at the wardrobe.
"That doesn't make sense," Yuuri said as he went about laying out his outfit. Honestly, he didn't understand why he couldn't just wear the outfit he had on now. Changing clothes for every little thing just seemed so frivolous.
Wolfram changed topics. "Is she the one you are supposed to mate with?"
"Yes, Wolfram. Just like I told you," Yuuri didn't know where Wolfram was going with this. The merman's cold stare hadn't changed one bit since they started talking.
Wolfram's frown deepened. "She's no good for you."
"Okay, Wolfram, you're being unreasonable. She just got here. It's only been a few minutes. Why is she no good for me?" Yuuri stopped to directly look at the other boy with a bemused expression.
Wolfram was quiet for a bit and then shrugged. "I don't know. She just isn't. You don't know her or what she is. But you're supposed to marry her. It's not good."
Yuuri sighed. "I agree, but we've been over this, remember? This is what royalty does. We marry people we don't know."
"That doesn't make sense! What if something is wrong with her?" Wolfram protested.
"Like what?"
Wolfram thought a moment. "What if….what if she doesn't like you?"
"That really doesn't matter in arranged marriages," Yuuri replied dryly.
"What if she doesn't like the beach or the ocean? You like those things!"
"She actually told me that she wanted to see the ocean."
Wolfram paused. "When did she tell you that?"
"While I escorted her to her rooms," Yuuri explained and then a realization came to him. "Hey, where did you go while I took her to her rooms? I thought you would have followed us."
Wolfram looked away in annoyance. "Shouri made me stay behind. When you two were gone he had the Effie take me back to my room but I snuck into your room when she left."
"Oh," Yuuri said quietly. Shouri and his father were already trying to keep them apart.
Wolfram got back on topic. "What if she doesn't like chocolate? That's your favorite."
"I'm sure she's not going to make me give up chocolate," Yuuri said with an eye roll.
"What if she doesn't like me?"
This made Yuuri pause. Setting his clothes down, he moved to stand in front of the merman and looked directly into his eyes.
"She will like you. Everyone here likes you," Yuuri said to try and comfort the obviously disturbed merman.
Wolfram was silent for along time. Yuuri could see the conflicting emotions behind those large eyes and Wolfram's struggle to communicate what he was actually feeling.
"What's really wrong, Wolfram?" Yuuri asked gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me."
"What if…she won't let us be together anymore?" Wolfram finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. The anxious look he gave Yuuri nearly broke the prince's heart. "What if she sends me away?"
"I swear to you, Wolfram. I'm not going to let that happen," Yuuri said as intensely as he could convey. "I promised, remember?"
Suddenly, Wolfram became agitated. "You can't promise!" He jerked away from Yuuri's touch to glare at him. "You can't even stand up to your father! How are you going to stop her from taking you away?"
Yuuri heaved a great sigh. He really did not want to deal with this right now. "I told you, I'm trying! I said I wouldn't let anything happen to you and I won't! You have to give me time!"
"There's no more time!" Wolfram cried, stomping his foot in time with each word. "She is here! Now! Today! You will marry her and she will take you away forever and you will never come back!"
"That's not going to happen, Wolf!" Yuuri insisted, becoming slightly angered at the situation.
"You said last night that it would!" Wolfram wasn't backing down.
"Give me a break, will you?" Yuuri shouted. "Damn it, Wolfram! I'm trying, okay? Right now, the best thing you and I can do is just be civil to the girl and see what we can do with what we've got! You have to be patient!"
"You're trying but you're not doing!" Wolfram shot back.
"Fine!" Yuuri threw his hands up in the air. "I'll be blunt! I don't know what I'm doing! I don't know what's going to happen during this visit. All I know is what I don't want to happen and that is losing you to some unknown fate where I can't help you!"
Wolfram looked down at the ground, all anger suddenly going away to be replaced by sadness. "I don't want you to send me away…I don't want you to lose me either…"
"Wolfram, I'm so sorry…" All anger gone, Yuuri rushed over to hug the merman, who simply let himself be squeezed into Yuuri's chest. "Please…you have to trust me. I won't send you away. I'm not going to forget you. I will think of something, I swear on my life I will!"
"Will you turn me back into a merman?" Wolfram whispered.
Gulping down his own dread at the prospect, Yuuri responded. "Of course. If that's what it takes then I will find a way to turn you back."
Wolfram nodded, still staring at the ground. Desperate to bring back some cheer to the world, Yuuri made a suggestion.
"Hey! Why don't we go to the kitchen and get a snack? We have a couple of hours before dinner and I'm a bit hungry. We can eat in the garden and walk around and stuff. Won't that be nice?"
Wolfram really didn't feel like walking in the garden, but wanting to change the subject, he slowly nodded.
"Great!" Yuuri grinned. "Let's go!"
Wolfram let Yuuri take his hand and lead him to the palace kitchens, his mind deep in thought as he tried to plan his own course of action should the worst come to pass.
Turning Wolfram back into a merman was the worst-case scenario for the both of them. Neither Yuuri nor Wolfram knew it, but neither of them wanted Wolfram to become a merman again. Neither could imagine a life without the other at this point. Neither knew why the other had become so important. They didn't know what it was that made them act so odd around the other, so emotional and irrational compared to their former selves. They didn't know and they really didn't have the time to figure it out now that time was against them and Yuuri's upcoming nuptials would tear their friendship apart.
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Their time in the garden was spent far too quickly for either's liking. They munched on sweetbreads and fruit, neither really talking, just enjoying other's presence as they awaited that night's welcome dinner.
Much too quickly, a maid came to warn them that the dinner was fast approaching and that Yuuri was expected to escort Lady Amelia to the dinner. With a sigh, Yuuri got up from his spot on the stone bench and headed back to his rooms to get ready with a quiet Wolfram following behind.
After they got dressed, Yuuri told Wolfram to find Murata and go with him. Much to his consternation, Wolfram flat out refused and instead chose to follow Yuuri as he went to get Amelia from her rooms. It was with growing nervousness that Yuuri knocked on her door and silently waited for her to answer.
"Hold on! I'll be just a moment!"
Trying to ignore the drilling intensity of Wolfram's stare, Yuuri gave a polite smile when Amelia finally opened the door and gave Yuuri a bright smile.
"Yuuri! Is it time already?" She said pleasantly, opening the door to reveal herself fully. She was dressed in a much more formal dress than the one she had arrived in. It was a navy blue accented with fine lace and pearl jewelry. Her hair had been redone into an even more elaborate bun with more pearls tucked into her hair. She looked simply lovely and Yuuri had to catch himself.
"Um…yes, it is," Yuuri said nervously. "I'm here to escort you to dinner."
"Oh, how sweet!" She smiled. "I'm all ready."
"Then let us go," Yuuri said and offered his arm to her.
Amelia reached out to take his arm but paused. "Who is this?"
"Oh…." Yuuri glanced over at Wolfram, who was standing just to the side of the doorframe and looking at the two of them with a hooded gaze.
"Please, excuse me," Yuuri said as smoothly as possible. He could feel the tension rolling off Wolfram in waves. "This is…my friend, Wolfram."
"Oh," Amelia seemed surprised, but she extended a friendly hand to Wolfram. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Lady Amelia Norwich."
Wolfram didn't take the hand. He acted as if she were handing him a rotted piece of fruit.
Amelia looked at Yuuri in confusion. Yuuri turned to Wolfram. "Shake her hand, Wolfram."
Wolfram didn't shake her hand. He was deliberately ignoring Yuuri.
Yuuri's voice took on an uncharacteristically threatening tone. "Wolfram….take her hand and shake it."
Grudgingly, Wolfram shook Amelia's hand and immediately dropped it. Amelia wasn't sure how to react, but being trained to handle any social situation, she gave another polite, but apprehensive, smile.
"Forgive him," Yuuri said as Amelia took his arm and they began the trek to the dining hall. "He's not used to social events."
"Really?" Amelia said with wide eyes. "He is not of the court?"
"Ah...no, he's not," Yuuri replied. "It's a long story."
"A servant?" Amelia guessed, looking back at Wolfram, who followed behind them, glaring at the place where their arms intertwined.
Wolfram didn't hear the rest of their conversation. He could only catch that Yuuri was explaining how he and Wolfram came to be friends and Amelia listened closely. Wolfram was too busy fighting every instinct that told him to rip those two apart and teach Amelia that this was not her place. Wolfram had been in territorial fights with other merfolk before and this was no different to him. Amelia was treading too close to what was his and it was only the precariousness of the situation that made him override his basic instincts and not throw her to the ground and take Yuuri for his own.
"Oh, the poor thing!" He heard Amelia say when Yuuri explained the working story that Wolfram was from an abusive home. "And your gave him wardship?'
"Yes, I granted him sanctuary in the palace. I couldn't just leave him there," Yuuri said, giving Wolfram a sympathetic glance over his shoulder at the merman to which Wolfram merely sniffed and looked at the ground.
"That was very kind of you," Amelia said. "Such a sad fate. You are most kind."
"Thank you," Yuuri blushed. Wolfram scoffed.
"I never knew the royal family to be so benevolent," Amelia said in admiration. "Your people must adore you."
"Well, Shouri's the popular one. I kind of just sit in the back," Yuuri said with a shrug.
"But still. To open your home to a homeless boy is incredibly altruistic for someone of the royal family. None of the nobles at my father's court would be so generous," Amelia said. "The nobility look down on the poor where I'm from."
"That's how it is here," Yuuri frowned. "They don't like to mingle with the lower classes."
"It's such a shame. I believe that we can do more for our poorer subjects," Amelia said firmly. "They rely on us for protection and guidance. It is only right that we should want to help them."
"I think that too!" Yuuri said, suddenly becoming more interested. "No one around here agrees with me."
"My father makes fun of me. He says I'm too soft!" Amelia said with an irritated sigh. "He says I should be more like my sisters. They are the epitome of the perfect court ladies. He says I'm too eccentric for my own good."
Yuuri couldn't help but laugh. "I get that too. My father's favorite instruction is 'be more like Shouri.' It rattles me every time!"
Amelia understood. "Same here. Seems like it's the curse of being the youngest. Nothing you do is as good as when the first-born did it – or new. Such is our fate."
"True," Yuuri said, finally glad to have someone who understood his plight.
They continued chatting and laughing with each other, becoming more and more at ease in the other's presence while Wolfram seethed behind them.
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The dining hall was brightly lit and tastefully decorated in preparation for their royal guests. Shouri was seated in his usual spot to the right of their father with Murata and the Daikenja next to him and the other court members seated in their respective places at the table. King Shouma and Queen Miko were already being seated with Lord Norwich as Yuuri and Amelia walked in with Wolfram in tow.
"Ah, you made it!" Norwich said with a grin. "I was wondering where you two had gone!'
"We were just chatting, Father," Amelia said sweetly. "Yuuri is fun to talk to."
"Good! Good!" Norwich grinned. "I am glad to see you two are getting along. That was our biggest fear, wasn't it, your Majesty?"
"Yes, it was," Shouma agreed with a polite smile. His smile became a frown when he noticed Wolfram standing behind them. "You brought Wolfram?"
"I wasn't supposed to?" Yuuri feigned surprise. "I wasn't told he was not invited."
"I thought it went without saying," Shouma scowled. "What with it being a formal dinner with our esteemed guests. A commoner has no place here."
"Wolfram will behave," Yuuri insisted. "Won't you, Wolfram?"
Wolfram said nothing but his gave a slight nod, not taking his eyes off of Amelia.
"Fine, fine," Shouma grunted, not willing to have a spat with his son in front of their guests.
Happy that Wolfram would be allowed to stay for dinner, Yuuri moved to pull out Amelia's seat.
"My Lady," Yuuri gestured for Amelia to sit, falling into the role of perfectly polite prince.
"Thank you, Prince Yuuri," Amelia smiled and gathered her skirts to sit in the offered chair.
Amelia had meant to sit down in the ornate wooden chair but found herself pushed to the side and her seat taken by a blonde head of hair with angrily crossed arms. Sitting in her spot was Wolfram, who gave her a look that dared her to make him move.
Both Amelia and Yuuri stared in shock at Wolfram while their parents watched them, slightly surprised and put off.
"And who is this?" Norwich said indignantly.
"That is Wolfram," Shouma growled. "Yuuri's friend he plucked off the streets a few months ago. He is uncivilized."
"That would seem so," Norwich said disapprovingly.
Yuuri gave Lord Norwich and Amelia an apologetic smile. "My apologies. This is Wolfram's usual spot, but he is going to move. Right, Wolfram?"
Wolfram didn't move. He continued to silently dare Yuuri to make him move from his chair. In his mind, Amelia and everyone would learn that he would not be cast aside. If Yuuri wasn't ballsy enough to ensure Wolfram's place in the palace, then he would do so himself!
Yuuri leaned in close so that only Wolfram could hear him. "Wolfram! Get your ass out of the chair and sit in the other spot! You're going to get us both in trouble!"
"This is my chair!" Wolfram hissed back. "I always sit here!'
"You can't sit there tonight!" Yuuri said. "Amelia has to sit here because she's my guest!"
"I was your guest first!" Wolfram wasn't backing down.
"Wolfram, you are making this way too hard!" Yuuri growled under his breath. He could feel the tense stares of the others. He knew Wolfram was seconds from being kicked out of the hall. "For the love of god, just sit in the other chair!"
"Prince Yuuri?" Amelia piped up cautiously.
"Yes?" Yuuri tried to hide the irritation in his voice.
"Did Wolfram just…squawk at you?" She asked.
"He has a damn speech impediment! I feel like I explain this every day!" Yuuri snapped, inadvertently taking out his frustration on Amelia. "I mean…..he has difficulty talking is all."
"Oh…" Amelia said, looking at Wolfram with a mix of sympathy and caution. "Well, he can sit there. I don't mind. I'll sit in the other chair next to you."
"You're going to let some nobody sit in Amelia's seat next to the prince? A seat of honor?" Norwich was outright offended.
"Yuuri, I think it is best if we have Wolfram take his evening meal in his rooms," King Shouma said with unforgiving finality.
"But-but!" Yuuri stuttered.
"Father, please!" Amelia scolded, cutting the tension. "Wolfram is a poor, homeless boy who found salvation in Prince Yuuri's kindness. He is obviously mentally handicapped and doesn't understand the nuances of court life. A chair is a chair. I can still talk to Yuuri just fine sitting on his left."
"Amelia, there is such a thing as etiquette!" Norwich protested. He then turned to the King. "Please forgive her, your Majesty! The girl has no regard for propriety."
"Forgive us, Lord Norwich," Shouma replied, giving Yuuri and Wolfram a cold stare. "Neither does my son."
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" interjected Queen Miko. "Let us not ruin this joyous occasion with debates about propriety! I highly doubt having Amelia sit on the left is going to ruin their relationship. Especially, seeing as she and Yuuri have become so close in such a short amount of time. There's no need to start a civil war!"
"You spoil the foundling, Miko!" Shouma protested.
Miko wasn't perturbed. "Wolfram is a sweet thing once you get to know him," she told Amelia. "He's just used to sitting in that spot. It's his special chair."
"It's really no issue," Amelia said, sitting herself in the other chair without Yuuri's help. "I understand."
Crisis only barely avoided. Yuuri bit back a groan and sat in his chair with Wolfram on his right and Amelia to his left.
The remaining tensions was broken when the food was brought out and set before the guests. The dinner guests made their selections and the buzz of multiple conversations filled the room as they ate their meal.
Yuuri barely tasted his food as he could only watch Wolfram for any sign of mischief on the merman's part. Wolfram had let everyone know right out the gate that he would not be controlled and not even Yuuri could make him do something he didn't want to do. Wolfram was just was unpredictable as he had always been and it served as a reminder to Yuuri that Wolfram wasn't someone to be subjugated. Wolfram was happy to let everyone know that he was displeased.
"So, Master Wolfram, how long have you lived here at the palace?"
Yuuri was genuinely surprised that Amelia would attempt small talk with the tempestuous blonde. Looking between Amelia and Wolfram, he anxiously awaited Wolfram's reply.
"Three months."
Yuuri could hear from the deliberate way Wolfram spoke that the merman was speaking Common. Good.
"Oh really? And how do you like living in the palace?"
"It is good." Wolfram replied, his tone and expression indiscernible.
"What do you like most about it?" Amelia asked, genuinely curious.
Yuuri's relief died when an odd glint appeared in Wolfram's eyes that promised nothing but suffering for the prince. It was the look Wolfram got whenever he was about to do something he knew Yuuri wouldn't like, but he was going to do it anyway.
"Yuuri is the best thing," Wolfram said much too sweetly to be innocent.
"Oh how precious!" Amelia smiled, not aware of Wolfram's mischievous nature. "You two spend a lot of time together?"
"Oh, lots of time!" Wolfram said emphatically, the odd glint growing stronger. "Yuuri teach me everything to know! He show me palace and beaches and the market. We are always together. Right, Yuuri?"
"Um…yeah," Yuuri said slowly, trying to figure out what Wolfram was up to.
"It must be nice compared to being on the streets," Amelia commented, daintily lifting a piece of bread to her glossy lips.
"Oh it is," Wolfram said with a serious nod. He suddenly linked his arm around Yuuri's, much to the prince's shock. "Yuuri takes good care of me. He protects me."
"Wolfram and I are good friends," Yuuri said, trying to subtly free his arm from Wolfram's grip, which only tightened to vice-like strength. "We are friends."
"Good friends," Wolfram almost purred, looking up at Yuuri's pleading face with nothing but exaggerated adulation. "Very good friends."
"It seems you too are close?" Amelia said, becoming a little uncomfortable at how physically close Wolfram and Yuuri now were.
"Very close," Wolfram smiled smugly. "We even share a bed."
"A bed?" Amelia's eyes widened in confusion.
Yuuri started to speak, but Wolfram cut him off. "We sleep together all the time. We even take baths -"
"Alright, Wolf. I think Amelia has heard enough!" Yuuri cut off with a nervous laugh, still vainly trying to get his arm out of Wolfram's grip.
"You bathe together?" The look on Amelia's face was one of morbid interest.
"Only once!"
"Nearly every night!'
"Shut up, Wolfram!" Yuuri hissed through gritted teeth. He finally got his arm free of Wolfram's grip and violently yanked it away.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," Yuuri was desperately trying to diminish any potential scandal from arising thanks to Wolfram's over-sharing. "He means we go swimming in the ocean all the time!"
"Oh," Amelia immediately relaxed now that Yuuri had given a more appropriate explanation. "That sounds like a lot of fun."
The grin that blossomed on Wolfram's face was absolutely devious. "Its very fun when we're naked!"
"What!?" Amelia sputtered.
"Wolfram, stop it!" Yuuri snapped. "I will send you to your room if you can't behave!"
"Is everything alright, Yuuri?"
"Everything is going well, Father!" Yuuri gave a reassuring smile to his suspicious father. "We're having a fine time."
Yuuri turned and whispered angrily into the merman's ear. "Wolfram, I will smack you if you don't be quiet this instant!"
Wolfram sneered back at Yuuri, flashing a sharp canine. "I dare you to touch me, human."
Yuuri glanced up around him. The conversations at the table had died down and everything was watching them curiously. Yuuri's handle on the situation was nonexistent and he sent out a pleading look to his brother and Murata, who could only look on helplessly.
"Yuuri, if Wolfram is having trouble then maybe he should go to his room, yes?"
Though his father's tone was meant to sound pleasant and poised, Yuuri could hear the very real threat.
"That won't be necessary," Yuuri said quickly.
Yuuri gave one last warning to Wolfram. "You are going to be quiet for the rest of this dinner and nothing else! Got it?"
Wolfram's eyes narrowed and for a moment, it seemed as if he would rebut Yuuri's whispered command. But a glance over at the king made the merman go silent.
"Fine, then," was all he said as he jabbed at his food, effectively shutting Yuuri and everyone around him out.
Yuuri sighed and then turned his attention back to Amelia, determined to recover the tension-free atmosphere.
"So, Lady Amelia," Yuuri redirected his attention to the awkwardly staring woman. "Tell me about Norwich? I heard it's in the mountains."
Amelia was quiet for a bit, still watching Wolfram with a slightly anxious expression, but Yuuri's wide grin and bright eyes calmed her and she slowly began to talk about her home country.
Within minutes, Yuuri and Amelia fell into an easy conversation. The awkward, tense moment forgotten, the dining guests returned to their various conversations.
Wolfram poked at his food. This wasn't his usual fare. The chef always remembered to set aside some lobster or crab or Wolfram's favorite sushi, but today was not the case. They were having steak and a bunch of vegetable dishes and Wolfram hated land vegetables. He missed his kelp and seaweed. The lack of palatable food only added to his ire as he was forced to listen to Yuuri talk to the human female and completely ignore him.
Dinner was finally over after a long three hours. The guests bade their goodnights to the royal family. Yuuri thought it had been the longest and most stressful dinner of his life. He had been listening to Amelia and chatting with the girl, while keeping a careful eye and ear on Wolfram, who amazingly had remained completely silent during the entirety of the dinner. Yuuri would have been relieved had it not been for the dark aura rolling off the other boy while he violently stabbed at his food. Yuuri didn't know how he was going to make this up to Wolfram. It seemed that no matter what he tried, he always ended up on the merman's bad side and would remain there until Amelia left.
Yuuri had found some comfort in Lady Amelia. Once her shyness had faded, the girl proved to be witty and intelligent. She and Yuuri talked about their childhoods, their hobbies, their interests, and on one more than one occasion, Amelia managed to make Yuuri outright laugh when she told a rather humorous story about her life in the Norwich territory.
Amelia wasn't bad. Though he didn't think so far as to consider falling in love with her, he could see them being friends and really, that was a bonus when it came to arranged marriages. If he and Amelia could get along, then Yuuri could resign himself to married life in time.
"I had a good time talking with you, Yuuri," Amelia said when they reached her rooms.
"Me too," Yuuri replied genuinely.
Amelia smiled. "I'm glad that we didn't hate each other."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well," Amelia said after thinking for a bit. "I've heard so many stories of two people hating each other when they meet for the first time that I was afraid that we wouldn't get along. But now that is not the case. So I'm glad."
"Ah, I see," Yuuri had heard those stories too. "Then I'm glad too."
"I shall see you tomorrow at breakfast?"
"Of course," Yuuri said cheerfully. "And if we have time, I'll show you the beach."
Amelia brightened. "Oh really? That would be just lovely!"
"It's a date then," Yuuri kissed Amelia's hand. "Have a goodnight, Amelia."
"You do so as well, Yuuri," Amelia said with a nod and she disappeared into her room.
Yuuri felt accomplished. That didn't turn out bad at all. Despite the rough start, this whole meeting was going well. He was sure his father would be pleased.
Footsteps echoed behind him and Yuuri turned around to see Wolfram approaching him. The merman looked sober and deep in thought.
A memory came to Yuuri then. A conversation he had with his father that morning when everyone had left after breakfast. He cringed.
"Hey, Wolfram?"
The merman turned to Yuuri, but said nothing. Yuuri took a cautious step closer, trying to come off as calm as possible.
"I meant to tell you that….you have to stay in your room tonight. You can't sneak in like usual."
Yuuri expected another outburst. He expected Wolfram to protest and insist that he stay with Yuuri like they always did. He fully expected to have to fight the merman on this like he had been doing for the past couple of days.
Wolfram didn't protest. He didn't fight. He remained silent. Rather than become angry, he simply slouched forward in defeat. He stepped away from Yuuri's door and shuffled over to his own room right across the hall.
"Wolfram?" Yuuri said in concern. He didn't know how to react to Wolfram's silence.
Wolfram pinned the prince on the spot with an intense glower that bespoke of his frustration at Yuuri. His green eyes were stormy and sharp.
"I'm-I'm sorry, Wolf. It's just that my father doesn't want - "
Wolfram sneered in disgust. "Your father….always has something to say doesn't he?"
Yuuri looked down in shame. "Wolf, I'm…"
"Don't say it!" Wolfram derided. "Don't say anything!"
Yuuri was quiet.
Wolfram sighed and opened the door to his own neglected room.
"Do what your father wants. I'm going to bed."
"Wolf, wait - " Yuuri tried to plead with him, but his plea was cut off by the slam of Wolfram's bedroom door and the prince was left alone in the hallway.
Yuuri sighed and meekly went to his own room. "I'm such a screw up…"
* * * * * * * * * * * * S * * * * * * * * * * * *
Yuuri jolted awake.
He woke up to his own bedroom shrouded in darkness. He had been sound asleep when something had woken him, but he didn't know what.
Looking around his room, he could see the shadows of his furniture and belongings standing in silent vigil around the space of his room. A gentle breeze blew in from the slightly ajar windows to let in the fresh night air. The smell of rain permeated the room and the white flash of distant lightening flickered behind the thick curtains.
What had he been dreaming about?
With a groan, Yuuri sat up, rubbing his hands over sleep-heavy eyes and messy hair as he tried to gather his thoughts. A strange emptiness came over him when he looked to his side and saw that his usual sleeping companion was gone.
At first, he wondered where Wolfram was and then he remembered that he had basically exiled the merman to his rooms until further notice. He hadn't wanted to. But he knew that it wouldn't look good for the prince to share a room with a commoner – a male commoner, when his future bride was visiting.
Yuuri was more than convinced that his father would do everything he could to keep them apart. He knew that for the remainder of the Norwich's visit that he would have to devote all his time to hosting Amelia and making the first steps toward a formal courtship. He would have no time for his aquatic friend and this would only serve to further drive them apart.
Their friendship had gone from wondrous to tumultuous in less than two days. From the moment Yuuri had confessed to Wolfram about Amelia, their relationship was at a precipice and whatever decision Yuuri made from here on out would decide if it fell to the depths or stayed precariously balanced so long as they could keep the secret of Wolfram's origin.
Yuuri flopped back onto the mattress. Their lie couldn't keep up forever. Something inside him knew that. They didn't know how long the spell that made Wolfram human would last or if was permanent. Wolfram hadn't had a drop of Yuuri's blood since that fateful day and Shinou only knew if he would need another dose if he wanted to remain on land. It was too much. Too many variables. Too many things that could go wrong and no way for them to prepare for the worst.
A sound pulled Yuuri from his thoughts. At first he thought it was just the rain pelting against the window, but right when he thought it was just his imagination, the sound came again.
It was so quiet. It sounded so gentle and yet, so alluring. The sound lilted on the breeze of the night air through the window and in time with the rain. It bade him come just a little closer.
Curiosity and something else pulling him, Yuuri slowly got out of bed and went to the door.
The sound didn't get any louder. It stayed the same lilting, drifting melody from beyond the door.
Yuuri's hand rested on the handle. He could feel himself falling into a trance from the sound that bade him. A word of caution drifted into his mind. He shouldn't be out of bed. He was still dreaming. He needed to go back to sleep.
'Come here to me.'
His hand moved of its own accord, twisting the handle and revealing the dark hallway when Yuuri should have been returning to his warm bed. The light from the storm flashed, bathing the empty corridor in white light, revealing the source of the sound. It wasn't a sound. Someone was singing.
The floor was icy-cold under his bare feet, but he hardly noticed as the song beckoned him closer. He stopped when a door stood in his way. Wolfram's bedroom door.
'I am here.'
A rhythmic thumping accompanied the song, beating in time with the drawn out lyrics and hums. The thumping only further drove Yuuri deeper into his daze. His hand drifted up to rest on the ornate carvings in the wood of the door. The swirls and twists in the design grounded Yuuri in the moment, his only connection to the real world as the singing continued.
'The things I'll show you. Under the abyss.'
A strange yearning came upon him. An obsessive need to follow, to join, to touch. But there was only wood, cold wood, and a rumbling storm that battered on beyond his conscience.
The singer promised him many things. Things Yuuri hadn't dared to want for the knowledge that they could never be his. It brought back his love of the sea, so long forgotten amidst the trials and duties of princehood. The sand, the waves, the sun setting over the rising tide, a merchild's smile, all the secrets of the ocean.
Yuuri leaned until his forehead gently bumped against the door, his hand hadn't left its spot and the other rose up to rest on the cold brass of the handle. He wanted to turn it, but then again he didn't. He was afraid and enamored of what lay beyond.
'The things you will see. Won't you have a wondrous sight?'
Yuuri's eyes slid shut. Would he? Could he? It seemed so much better than what he had. So much better than life as a prince, enslaved to duty and his father's whims, to arranged marriages and political schemes.
'Here, with me. Beneath the waves.'
The storm raged on, melding in time with the singer's voice that was low and gentle. So not of this world. Inhuman.
"Wolfram?" Yuuri breathed, a name spoken as a plea. Begging the merman to not tempt him. Begging him to not make such a promise. He couldn't take it.
The voice immediately stopped. It shouldn't have surprised him, what with the ears of a merman being so much more sensitive than a mere human.
There was no response. There was only silence and the rain. Yuuri suddenly felt the absence of the song and he felt bare without it.
Then, the voice started to sing again. No louder, no quieter, and yet Yuuri felt it grow in intensity. He had stupidly given himself away. Now he was trapped. Wolfram's unearthly, husky voice drifted beyond the door and held Yuuri's mind hostage.
'Will you warm my soul?'
Yuuri's eyes opened. He was leaning heavily against the door now, his hand gripping the handle till his knuckles were white, fighting the urge to turn it and give in. But he stubbornly held on.
'Will you quell my passion?'
The tone was different. Instead of simply luring Yuuri in with its ebb and flow, it picked at a more obscure part of him. A part of him he had never experienced before and never thought he would.
'No, no, I can't,' Yuuri thought helplessly. He couldn't feel those things. He shouldn't feel those things. Not right now. Not for him.
Wolfram was merciless. Yuuri could hear the conquest in his voice.
'Will you quell my desire?'
Yuuri moaned. It was a mix of despair and need. Wolfram's voice was awakening something primal in him. It went against all logic and everything he had been taught to repress all these years.
Images came unbidden, summoned by the haunting words of the siren's song. Pale, soft skin, pink lips pulled into an inviting smile, eyes green like the sun rays through the water, golden hair, and slim arms that beckoned him come closer.
What was Wolfram wearing? Was he in his usual pajamas or was he naked, like he was wont to be whenever he was alone or when it was just him and Yuuri? Yuuri was almost envious of Wolfram's shamelessness. Such a perfect body.
'Wolfram, please….stop,' Yuuri's mind begged the merman. He tried to speak but his mouth wouldn't move. More images came to him. Sinful images that no self-respecting prince should ever think about. His self-restraint was weakening. If Wolfram didn't stop, he didn't know what he would do. He didn't want to know.
'Our light shall be the moon. Our path, the ocean.'
Yuuri was shaking. His body and mind were fighting with each other. The darker side of him wanted to tear down the door and join with Wolfram in every way possible. Yet, the civil part of him, the part his father had worked so hard to cultivate, continued to fight. Wolfram was enticing him. Almost pleading with him to join him under the sea, his natural home. Their home.
'Sail home to me.'
"Yes…." Came a broken whisper from Yuuri's lips.
Yuuri could feel Wolfram's presence. He was on the other side of the door! He could feel the warmth of the other boy through the wood. He just had to turn the handle and it would be his!
Yuuri could hear the smile in Wolfram's voice.
'Come to me, my prince…'
Just as Yuuri turned the handle, a loud lightening strike tore through the heavy quiet and right through Yuuri's trance.
The prince gasped, yanked his hand away from the door like he had been burned.
Too close. That was way too close!
"Enough!" he whispered heatedly. "That's enough!"
With more effort than he cared to admit, Yuuri turned on his heel and rushed back into the safety of his own room. He slammed the door and nearly leaped into bed. He hid himself under the covers and buried his head in the pillow to block out the lingering images and sounds that drifted through his rattled psyche.
Yuuri had heard a mermaid's song only once. It was beautiful but he didn't understand how it could drive men to insanity. He had never experienced the near hysteria that overcame sailors and drove them to madness. It was just stories.
Was that what it felt like to be rendered completely helpless by a mermaid's song? Or was it just Wolfram's song?
Timidly, he peeked out from under the pillow at his door. The voice was gone, leaving the room in utter silence save for the dying thunder outside. Yuuri sent a silent thank you to the lightening for saving him from Wolfram's spell. Great One only knew what could have happened.
Yuuri lay there for a long time. He found himself missing the sound of Wolfram's voice. It was lovely and unlike anything he had ever heard. His primal mind yearned to hear it, to hear more of those seductive lyrics that promised him everything if only he would surrender.
Yuuri let out a low moan. He had never experienced desire like that. Not ever. Not for a woman nor a man. And certainly not for a merman.
And yet, he wanted to feel it again.
* * * * * * * * * * * * S * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lo! Chapter 10 of Syrena!
I hope you all enjoyed this. This will probably go down as my fastest update. This is actually the first half of the original chapter I wrote, but I was hit with sudden inspiration and I added a couple scenes that made it too long so I had to break it into two chapters.
The final scene was my favorite and hardest to write. I really wanted to get Yuuri's conflicting emotions and frightening realization of his feelings for Wolfram right. I'd love to hear what you all thought of it.
The final scene was inspired by Willow's Song from the 1975 movie The Wicker Man and Enya's song Exile from her Watermark album. Both songs fit this story very well. Especially the budding romance between our favorite couple.
As always, I look forward to your reviews. A couple of you wanted to "hear" Wolfram sing so I hope this turned out well. I like to think he sounds like a male version of Enya.
Please review! And I will see you all for the next chapter!
With love, EB.